Method and communication device for handling data records by speech recognition

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device having a speech recognition for selecting and activating device function by acoustic input. Particularly, the present invention relates to a backup method to be used in case of failure of the speech recognition offering an advantageous method for selecting and activating the device functions operable with speech recognition by operation of switches and keys in an easy and fast way. The device functions, i.e. especially dialing of telephone numbers, are organized in data records. On receiving a user input, a list of the data records is displayed to the user. On receiving a further user input, one of the displayed list of data records is identified and an instruction is transmitted to at least one of several applications executed on the mobile communication device. The instruction commands the receiving application to operate in accordance with the transmitted instruction in order to cause the respective device function of the mobile communication device. Exemplary, the instruction may include a telephone number to be dialed which is transmitted to a dialing application causing on receiving the telephone number the establishment of a telephone communication link.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device, and moreparticular to a mobile communication device comprising an improvedspeech recognition for operating its functionality.

The convenience provided by mobile phones to be operated withindifferent situations in combination with the freedom of movement is oneof the features causing the wide spread and general acceptance of themobile phones within the population. In parallel, the number ofapplications and device functions provided by mobile phones to the usersincrease rapidly with each generation. The increasing number ofapplications and device functions result from the increasingcapabilities of the hardware implemented in the mobile phones and thedemand of the user for easier handling of mobile phones.

An advantageous feature in combination with the handling of a mobilephone is a speech or voice recognition, respectively. The speechrecognition takes into account the circumstances that modern mobilephones store up to several of hundreds telephone numbers being stored inan implemented telephone directory. The speech recognition improvesefficiently the selection of the one desired telephone number.Especially, the increasing acceptance of headsets also suggests itselfand prefers the use of speech recognition. The use of headsets furthermakes the handling of a mobile phone more easier, since mobile phonesare usually carried in jacket or trouser pockets and the establishing ofa telephone call by a mobile phone having connected a headset via speechrecognition prevents the user from fishing out the mobile phone from thepockets.

Usually, a limited selection of telephone numbers comprised in thetelephone directory is associated with recorded voice tags which havebeen previously entered by a user within a certain training mode. Anacoustic input of the user corresponding to a certain recorded voice tagresults in a dialing of the associated telephone number in order toestablish a communication link to this phone number.

The speech recognition algorithms are limited in their performance innoisy environments especially in noisy environments within the space ofa motor vehicle, e.g. parking on a service area at a busy highway, onloud and noisy streets, e.g. in a pedestrian precinct heavily populatedor in case the voice of the speaker is affected by a disease such as anordinary cold. In such performance liming situations a furtheradvantageous operational method backing up the speech recognition is ofspecial interest.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a mobilecommunication device for handling data records of a mobile communicationdevice selectable by speech recognition.

The inventive concept has several advantages offered to a user of amobile communication device having the capability of speech recognition.In case of a failed speech recognition of an acoustic input of the userby the mobile communication device the present inventive concept offersa fast, reliable and easy to use method to activate manually the desiredfunction of those usually activated by speech recognition. An importantaspect thereof is fast and easy manual access in order to provide aback-up method to access functions operable with speech recognition. Theuser browses easily through a list of telephone directory entries havingassigned voice tags and selects an entry to dial the correspondingtelephone number. The manual selection implies the operation of a fewkeys or switches easily operable by the user without supervising it.

Moreover, usually the number of voice tags for speech recognition islimited due to the memory capacity of the mobile communication deviceand since an ordinary user is only capable to remember a limited numberof voice tags, e.g. about ten voice tags. Therefore, the speechrecognition is used for important and/or often used telephone directoryentries to be dialed. The manual selection of the telephone directoryentries guarantees a fast access to these important and often usedtelephone numbers.

Additionally, the speech recognition shall not be limited to theaccessing of telephone directory entries but shall also allow to operatecertain device functions and/or device application functions.Analogously, voice tags are assigned to device functions and/or deviceapplication functions or to instructions controlling the devicefunctions and/or device application fuctions, respectively.

The objects of the invention are attained by a method, a computerprogram and a mobile communication device which are characterized bywhat is claimed in the accompanying independent claims. Furtherembodiments of the invention are the subject of the correspondingdependent claims.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for handling datarecords of a mobile communication device is provided. The data recordsare selectable by speech input and recognition, that is the data recordsare recallable by speech recognition causing a pre-defined operation onthe mobile communication device. At first, a first user input isreceived. A list of the data records is displayed in accordance with thefirst user input to the user. In the following, a second user input isreceived. The second user input identifies one of the displayed datarecords. Finally, an instruction associated with the identified datarecord is transmitted to one of the applications executed on the mobilecommunication device. These applications control the functions of themobile communication device and the transmitted instructions instructthe receiving application to operate correspondingly thereto.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an initial user input isreceived. The initial user input instructs the mobile communicationdevice to operate a speech recognition application in order to beprepared for an acoustic input which is to be analyzed by the speechrecognition application for identifying a corresponding data record.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one voice tag isassociated to each of the data records in order to be identified by thespeech recognition.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one designation isassociated to each of the data records. The designation is to bedisplayed to the user for selecting one of the data records.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the data records aredistinguished into a first set of data records and a second set of datarecords. The first set of data records comprises telephone directoryentries each of which include at least a designation and a telephonenumber. The second set of data records comprises device functions anddevice application functions. Each data record of the second setcomprises an instruction causing the operation of the respective devicefunctions and device application functions and a designation thereto.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first user input hastwo possible values, a first input value and a second input value. Incase the value of the first user input equals the first input value, alist of the first set of data records is displayed to the user. In casethe first user input equals the second input value, a list of the secondset of data records to displayed to the user.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the data records of thefirst set of data records are arranged in a pre-determined sequence.Further, the displaying of the list of the first set of data recordscomprises a displaying of at least one data records of the first set. Onreceiving of a browsing input by the user, at least one subsequent or atleast one preceding data record of the first set of data recordsrelative to the presently displayed one is displayed. The browsing inputhas two browsing input values, a first browsing value and a secondbrowsing value. The receiving of the first browsing value causes thedisplaying of the subsequent data records, whereas the receiving of thesecond browsing value causes the displaying of the preceding datarecord.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the data records of thesecond set of data records are arranged in a pre-determined sequence.Further, the displaying of the list of the second set of data recordscomprises a displaying of at least one data records of the first set. Onreceiving of a browsing input by the user, at least one subsequent or atleast one preceding data record of the second set of data recordsrelative to the presently displayed one is displayed. The browsing inputhas two browsing input values, a first browsing value and a secondbrowsing value. The receiving of the first browsing input value causesthe displaying of the subsequent data record, whereas the receiving ofthe second browsing input value causes the displaying of the precedingdata record.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a software tool forhandling data records of a mobile communication device selectable byspeech recognition is provided. The software tool comprises programportions for carrying out the operations of the aforementioned methodswhen the software tool is implemented in a computer program and/orexecuted.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided acomputer program for handling data records of a mobile communicationdevice selectable by speech recognition. The computer program comprisesprogram code sections for carrying out the operations of theaforementioned methods when the program is executed on a processingdevice a computer, a processing device or a network device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a computer program productis provided which comprises program code portions stored on a computerreadable medium for carrying out the aforementioned methods when saidprogram product is executed on a processing device, a computer or anetwork device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a mobile communicationdevice for handling data records of a mobile communication deviceselectable by speech recognition is provided. The mobile communicationdevice includes a plurality of applications executable thereon and thedata records each have assigned at least one voice tag. The voice tagsare employed for speech recognition. Additionally, the mobilecommunication device further includes a speech recognition component forrecognizing acoustic input via a microphone. Preferably, the speechrecognition component is a speech recognition application comprised inthe plurality of applications executable on the mobile communicationdevice. The speech recognition allows to select one data record of thelist of data records by comparing the acoustic input with the assignedvoice tags.

A first actuator allows a user to activate the speech recognitioncomponent, i.e. to instruct the mobile communication device to beprepared for receiving an acoustic input to be processed by the speechrecognition component A second actuator is operable with the speechrecognition component. The second actuator allows a user to initiate adisplaying of a list of data records on a display coupled to the mobilecommunication device. Advantageously, the at least one data record ofthe list of the data records is displayed on the display to the user.Further, a third actuator allows a user to select one data record of thedisplayed list of the data records, wherein the selection of the datarecord causes a transmission of the instruction comprised in theselected data record an a corresponding application to be operated inaccordance with the transmitted instruction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the data recordsincludes at least a designation and an instruction. Preferably, thedesignations are textual or symbolic designations allowing a user toidentify the data record and being adapted for display.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the data records aredivided into a first set of data records and a second set of datarecords. The first set of data records comprises information dedicatedto a dialing application for dialing telephone numbers. Preferably, thefirst set of data records comprises telephone directory entriesassociated with voice tags. The second set of data records comprisesinformation dedicated to ether applications to control furtherapplications in accordance with the instructions comprised in the datarecords of the second set of data records. Moreover, the second actuatoroperable with the speech recognition component enables a user toinitiate the displaying either of a list of the first set or of a listof the second set of data records.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first input signalcauses a displaying of at least one data record of the list of the firstset of data records, being arranged in a pre-determined sequence. Thesecond actuator is further operable with the speech recognitioncomponent in order to generate either a first browsing signal or asecond browsing signal. The first browsing signal causes a displaying ofat least one subsequent data record of the first set of data recordsrelative to the presently displayed at least one data record. The secondbrowsing signal causes a displaying of at least one preceding datarecord of the first set of data records relative to the presently atleast one displayed data record.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second input signalcauses a displaying of at least one data record of the list of thesecond set of data records, being arranged in a pre-determined sequence.The second actuator is further operable with the speech recognitioncomponent in order to generate either a first browsing signal or asecond browsing signal. The first browsing signal causes a display of atleast one subsequent data record of the second set of data recordsrelative to the presently displayed at least one data record. The secondbrowsing signal causes a display of at least one preceding data recordof the second set of data records relative to the presently at least onedisplayed data record.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second actuator is amultiple switching component able to cause at least two differentsignals upon operation of a user.

The invention will be described in greater detail by the means ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich

FIG. 1 a shows a flow diagram illustrating an operational sequenceaccording to an embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 2 a shows a flow diagram illustrating a first operation subsequencecomprised in the operational sequence depicted in FIG. 1 according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 b shows a flow diagram illustrating a second operationsubsequence comprised in the operational sequence depicted in FIG. 1according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating a sequence of displayspresented to a user operating a mobile communication device according toan embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating components of a mobilecommunication device adapted to operate the aforementioned operationsaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

The following description relates to mobile communication devices andthe method according to embodiments of the invention. Same or equalparts shown in the figures will be referred by the same referencenumerals.

The following FIG. 1 in combination with FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 billustrates an exemplary operational sequence implemented and executedin a mobile communication device with respect to the present inventionand in accordance with the inventive concept.

The reference is directed to FIG. 1 illustrating the exemplaryoperational sequence in a first perspective.

In a first operation S100, the mobile communication device is switchedon. In an operation S101, the mobile communication is operated in astandby or idle mode, respectively. In this idle mode, a mobilecommunication device is at least able to receive incoming signals withthe antenna via a cellular communication network and to receive userinput entered by a user via the keyboard or keypad of the mobilecommunication device.

Preferably, the entered user input is dedicated to a user interface ofthe mobile communication device to control or operate deviceapplications and device functions of the mobile communication device.Moreover, the entered user input is interpreted as an instructioninstructing to activate a certain application executable on the mobilecommunication device.

In an operation S103, a certain entered user input leads to theactivation of a speech or voice recognition, respectively. Therespective user input is preferably generated by operation of adedicated activation key or by selecting a certain item of the userinterface of the mobile communication device. The dedicated activationkey may be connected externally to the mobile communication device, suchas implemented in a cable of a headset or in an external key controlboard e.g. of a free-hand installation in a motor vehicle.

In an operation S104, the speech recognition is activated and isprepared for an acoustic input of the user. The speech recognitionreceives the acoustic input preferably recorded via a microphoneimplemented in the mobile communication device or connected externallyto the mobile communication device, e.g. a microphone of a headset or amicrophone of a free-hand installation implemented in the dashboard ofthe motor vehicle.

In an operation S105, an acoustic input is identified and recorded. Thisacoustic input is preferably compared with a set of stored voice tags.Conventionally, voice tags for speech recognition have to be inputted bya user, preferably in a certain training mode previous to the speechrecognition. Inputting and training of voice tags offers the possibilityto a user to define arbitrary user selected speech phrases as voicetags. Further conventionally, the voice tags are assigned to a telephonenumber entry in the telephone directory implemented in the mobilecommunication device.

In case of correspondence of the acoustic input inputted by the userwith one of the pre-stored voice tags, the telephone number to which thecorresponding voice tag has been assigned is transmitted to a dialingapplication to be dialed in order to establish a telephone communicationto the dialed counterpart telephone.

Moreover, in accordance with the concept of the present invention, thespeech recognition is not only employed to support the telephone numberdialing operation of the mobile communication device but also to operatefurther device functions or to control device applications executed onthe mobile communication device. Analogous to the association of voicetags and selected telephone directory entries, voice tags are assignedto instructions to control device functions. Both the instructions andthe assigned voice tags are preferably defined by user input. The devicefunctions and device applications associated with voice tags to becontrolled by speech recognition shall be organized logically in adirectory similar to the telephone directory and the set of these devicefunctions and device applications will be termed in the following asfunction directory.

The following operations S110 and S111 are exemplary backup operationsaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Preferably, the operationsS110 and S111 are operable with the speech recognition mode describedwith reference to operation S104. The operations S110 and S111 areactivated by user input, respectively, e.g. by operation of functionkeys, i.e. navigation keys dedicated for browsing or navigating throughthe user interface of the mobile communication device, respectively.Here, an operation of a first navigation key “

” by the user results in carrying on with operation S111 of theoperations referred to in FIG. 1, whereas an operation of a secondnavigation key “

”* by the user results in carrying on with operation S110 of theoperations referred to in FIG. 1.*see FIG. 1

Moreover, the operations S110 and S111 may also be activated (S102) inthe standby or idle mode of the mobile communication device of operationS101, respectively. The activation of either the operation S110 or theoperation S111 may be operable with corresponding menu items of the userinterface of the mobile communication device.

In the operation S110, a list of telephone directory entries or contactsis displayed to the user of the mobile communication interface,respectively. The displayed entries relate to the set telephonedirectory entries comprised in the total telephone directory embedded inthe mobile communication device, which are selectable by speechrecognition. The user has the possibility to select one of the displayedtelephone directory entries by a user input for instructing to transmita telephone number associated to the selected entry to the dialingapplication in order to establish a telephone communication via thedialed counterpart telephone.

In an operation S111, a list of device functions and device applicationfunctions is displayed to the user of the mobile communicationinterface. The displayed device functions and device applicationfunctions relate to device functions or device applications to becontrolled by speech recognition and hence relate to the functiondirectory described above. The user has the possibility to select one ofthe displayed function directory entries by a user input for instructingto transmit a corresponding instruction to an application controllingthe selected device function or to the selected device application to becontrolled in accordance with the instruction.

The operations S110 and S111 are described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b which will be described below.

In an operation S106, the application controlling the device function orthe application to be controlled receives the selected instruction.

In case the operation S106 is executed subsequently to operation S105 oroperation S110, respectively, the dialing application is addressed, thedialing of a telephone number in accordance with the selected telephonedirectory entry is initiated and a communication is established.Preferably, the completion of the communication leads to the return ofthe depicted operational sequence to operation S101, i.e. to the standbyor idle mode of the mobile communication device, respectively.

In case the operation S106 is executed subsequently to operation S111,the application addressed by the instruction associated to the selecteddevice function or device application function receives the instructionand the control of the mobile communication device is handed over to theaddressed application. Preferably, the completion of the process causedby the instruction leads finally to the return of the operationalsequence to operation S101.

The reference is directed to FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b illustrating theoperation S110 and the operation S111 in greater detail respectively.The illustrated exemplary operational sequences of the FIG. 2 a and FIG.2 b differs only in a few details.

FIG. 2 a depicts a first operational subsequence comprised in theoperational sequence depicted in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

In an operation S120, the operation for offering a list of devicefunctions and device application functions of the mobile communicationinterface and for selecting a list of items to be executed is started.Advantageously, the list comprises and is limited to listed items whichcan be selected and activated alternatively by speech recognition asdescribed with reference to operation S105 illustrated in FIG. 1. Thelist represents the aforementioned function directory comprising thedevice functions and device application functions to be actuated byspeech recognition. The following operations are operations which arecarried out in combination with operation S111 depicted and described inFIG. 1.

In an operation S121, the list, the list items or the function direentries are prepared to be displayed, respectively. The entries areadapted to be displayed to a user. Preferably, the entries comprisetextual designations or symbolic designations to be displayed andillustrative of the device functions and device application functions tobe controlled. More preferably, the designations term uniquely and/or inan easy understandable way the respective device functions and deviceapplication functions. The designations may be similar or equal to thedesignations of items of the user interface of the mobile communicationdevice, selecting of which causes comparable or the same results.Advantageously, the displayed designations or entries are associateduniquely to the device functions and device application functions to becontrolled.

In an operation S122, a first designation or a set of first designationsrelating to function directory entries is displayed to the user on adisplay coupled to the mobile communication device, respectively. Thenumber of designations displayable to the user is dependent of thedesign of the display, i.e. on the number of displayable text rows. Oneof the displayed designations is presently selected.

In an operation S123, the user of the mobile communication devicebrowses through the list using the navigation keys “

” and “

”. The function directory entries and hence also the designationsassociated to the entries are arranged in a pre-determined sequence. Theoperation of one of the navigation keys either instructs to select asubsequent or a preceding designation of the function directory relativeto the presently selected one. Advantageously, the selection of asubsequent or a preceding designation comprises a displaying of thenewly selected designation. Moreover, the selecting comprises ascrolling of the displayed set of designations, a new arrangement of theset of designations to be displayed and the like.

The operations S122 and S123 are repeated until a certain designationdesired by the user is presently selected.

In an operation S124, a user input causes that the device functions ordevice application functions associated with the presently selecteddesignation is to be operated, respectively. More precisely, the userinput instructs to transmit an instruction associated to the presentlyselected designation to the corresponding addressed applicationcontrolling the device function or to the corresponding addressed deviceapplication in order to operated in accordance with the instruction,respectively. The operation of the operational sequence is returned tooperation S111 or to operation S106 of the operational sequence depictedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 b depicts a second operation subsequence comprised in theoperational sequence depicted in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment ofthe invention

In an operation S130, the operation for offering a list of contacts ofthe mobile communication interface and for selecting a contact to bedialed is started. Advantageously, the list of contacts comprises and islimited to contacts which can be selected and activated alternatively byspeech recognition as described with referee to operation S105illustrated in FIG. 1. The following operations are operations which arecarried out in combination with operation S110 depicted and described inFIG. 1.

In an operation S131, the list and the contacts are prepared to bedisplayed, respectively. The contacts are adapted to be displayed to auser. Preferably, the contacts comprises textual designations orsymbolic designations to be displayed and illustrative of the contactsand more preferably, the designations are the telephone directoryentries defined previously by the user.

In an operation S132, a first contact or a set of first contacts isdisplayed to the user on a display coupled to the mobile communicationdevice, respectively. The number of contacts displayable to the user isdependent of the design of the display, i.e. on the number ofdisplayable text rows. One of the displayed contacts is presentlyselected.

In an operation S133, the user of the mobile communication devicebrowses through the list of contacts using the navigation keys “

” and “

”. The contacts are arranged in a pre-determined sequence. The operationof one of the navigation keys either instructs to select a subsequent ora preceding contact relative to the presently selected one.Advantageously, the selection of a subsequent or a preceding designationcomprises a displaying of the newly selected contact.

Moreover, the selecting comprises a scrolling of the displayed set ofcontacts, a new arrangement of the set of contacts to be displayed andthe like.

The operations S132 and S133 are repeated until a certain contactdesired by the user is presently selected.

In an operation S134, a user input causes that the telephone numberassociated with the presently selected contact is to be dialed. Moreprecisely, the user input instructs to transit a telephone numberassociated to the presently selected contact to the dialing applicationin order to establish a telephone communication. The operation of theoperational sequence is returned to operation S110 or to operation S106of the operational sequence depicted in FIG. 1.

It shall be noted, that the navigation keys operable to navigate throughthe contact list and the list of device functions and device applicationfunctions are also operable with the initiating of the manual selectingoperations referred in FIG. 1 with respect to operation S104.

The operational sequences referred to in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 a as wellas in FIG. 2 b are amplified by the illustrations presented in FIG. 3.FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary screen contents of a display implemented inthe mobile communication device or connected externally to the mobilecommunication device according to an embodiment of the invention.References will be made to FIG. 1 as well as to FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b inorder to complete the aforementioned operational sequences.

In an operation S200, an exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the standby or idle mode is depicted Thedepicted screen content relates to the operation S101 shown in FIG. 1.

In an operation S201, an exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the speech recognition mode is depicted. Thedepicted screen content relates to the operation S102 shown in FIG. 1.The textual tern “Speak Now” indicates to the user that the mobilecommunication device is prepared to receive an acoustic input to beanalyzed and compared with stored voice tags for speech recognition. Thetop display row indicates the alternative manual selection of contactsor device functions and device applications, respectively as describedin the operations S110 and S111 shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Here, the left part of the top row informs the user that the navigationkey “

” allows to select by user input a device function or a deviceapplication comprised in the list of device functions and deviceapplications associated with a voice tag to be controlled, i.e.comprised in the aforementioned function directory, whereas the rightpart of the top row informs the user that the navigation key “

” allows to select by user input a contact comprised in the list ofcontacts associated with a voice tag to be dialed. The selection by userinput will be termed in the following as manual input in order toemphasize the difference of the activation of the respective listentries to speech recognition.

In an operation S220, a first exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of device functionsand device applications is depicted. A first item of the list of devicefunctions and, device applications associated with voice tags isdisplayed. The exemplary device function or device application termed“Missed Calls” informs the user that the selection of this item resultsin the recalling of missed telephone calls. The term “Missed Calls”represents exemplary one of the aforementioned designations of devicefunctions or device applications, respectively.

In an operation S221, a second exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of device functionsand device applications is depicted. The exemplary device function ordevice application termed “Profile Settings” informs the user that theselection of this item results in the recalling of the profile settingmenu allowing the user to adapt the mobile communication device to aselection of pre-defined profile settings. The term “Profile Settings”represents exemplary a fiercer designation of a device function or adevice application, respectively.

In an operation S225, a further exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of device functionsand device applications is depicted. The exemplary device function ordevice application termed “Radio Off!” informs the user that theselection of this item results in the switching off of a radioimplemented or coupled to the mobile communication device. The term“Radio Off!” represents exemplary a further designation of a devicefunction or a device application, respectively.

The operations S220, S221 and S225 illustrate exemplary device functionsand device applications to be controlled. The sequence of the screencontents in S220, S221 and S225 is operated in accordance with theoperations S122 to S123 illustrated in FIG. 2 a and described withreference thereto. The top row informs the user of the navigationEmotions assigned to the navigation keys “

” and “

”, respectively. The middle text row of the screen contents informs theuser how to browse through the items relating to device functions anddevice applications to be controlled.

In an operation S210, an exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of contacts isdepicted. The exemplary contact termed “Home” informs the user that theselection of this item results in the dialing of the home telephonenumber.

In an operation S211, an exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of contacts isdepicted. The exemplary contact termed “Office” informs the user thatthe selection of this item results in the dialing of the officetelephone number.

In an operation S215, an exemplary screen content of a mobilecommunication device in the manual selection mode of contacts isdepicted. The exemplary contact termed “Traffic Flash” informs the userthat the selection of this item results in the dialing of the telephonenumber of a traffic flash service.

The operations S210, S211 and S215 illustrate exemplary telephonedirectory entries to be dialed. The sequence of the screen contents inS210, S211 and S215 is operated in accordance with the operations S132to S133 illustrated in FIG. 2 b and described with reference thereto.The top row informs the user of the navigation functions assigned to thenavigation keys “

” and “

”, respectively. The middle text row of the screen contents informs theuser how to browse trough the telephone directory entries to be dialed.

It shall be noted that the browsing operation described by theoperations S122 and S123 or the operations S132 and S133, respectively,may be extended by further operations for handling the entries of therespective lists, i.e. the function directory and the telephonedirectory. Entries of the respective list may be removed on user input.Further additional entries may be added by user input to the respectivelist or directory, respectively. Advantageously, a voice tag associatedwith a certain list entry may be reproduced on user input in order toinform a user about a forgotten voice tag. Further advantageously, theuser may be allowed to record a voice tag, e.g. to record a acousticphrase which is easier to be remembered.

FIG. 4 illustrates components implemented in the mobile communicationdevice or coupled to the mobile communication device for operating theaforementioned operational sequences according to an embodiment of theinvention. The illustrated components are implemented internally in themobile communication device or coupled externally thereto. The depictedcomponents include a key controller 210, a central processing unit 200,an audio unit 220, a display driver 230 controlling a display 240, atransceiver unit (RX/TX) 280 connected to an antenna 285, and anapplication store 250, a data storage 260 and a voice data storage 270.

The processing unit 200 executes the applications of the mobilecommunication device contained in the application store 250. Preferably,the applications of application store 250 comprise at least a speechrecognition application and an application comprising instructions forcarrying out the aforementioned method according to an embodiment of theinvention.

The data storage 260 comprises a telephone directory preferablyorganized in a plurality of data records each including a designation ortelephone directory entry, respectively, and a telephone number. Furtherthe data storage 260 comprises a function directory organized in aplurality of data records each including a designation and aninstruction for controlling a device function or a device application inaccordance with the above described method.

Voice data storage 270 stores voice tags associated with a selection oftelephone directory entries and with a selection of function directoryentries. The voice tags are used during the speech recognition toidentify an acoustic input of the user therewith. The data records ofthe selection of telephone directory entries and selection of functiondirectory entries identifiable and selectable by acoustic input andspeech recognition comprises at least a link to the respective voicetag. Preferably, the voice tags are inputted and trained by the means ofa particular voice tag defining application. More preferably, the voicetags are specially encoded acoustic inputs.

The distinction between data storage 260 and voice data storage 270 isnot necessary since a common storage allows to store both data and voicedata. The differentiation between them may be understood as asimplification of the description which shall not be understood aslimiting of the present invention thereto.

The audio unit 220 provides a connectivity to speakers, headphones and amicrophone or a headset containing headphones and microphone forreproducing an audio signal and for recording an audio signal.Therefore, the audio unit 220 integrates at least amplifiers, an analogto digital converter (ADC) and a digital to analog converter (DAC). Theanalog to digital converter (ADC) performs the converting of an acousticsignal detected by the microphone to a digital coded data sequencerepresenting the analog signal and the digital to analog converter (DAC)performs the reproducing of a digital coded data sequence by convertingthe sequence into an analog audio signal. Further the audio unitprovides additionally a connectivity to an external microphone and anexternal speaker such as employed in a headset or in free-handinstallations e.g. to be arranged in motor vehicles. The FIG. 4illustrates a headset 120 including a microphone and headphonesconnected detachably and externally to the mobile communication device.Advantageously, the cable of the headset 120 has implemented a switchconsole including a multiple switch or a plurality of switches forremote controlling a selection of device functions.

Further, a selection of different navigation keys are depicted in FIG.4. Each of the depicted navigation keys allows a user to input at leastthree different signals.

A first depiction 100 shall illustrate a joystick switch operable intodifferent direction to generate switch signals which are associated tocertain functions. The operation of the joystick into an upwarddirection indicated by the symbol “

” causes a user input relating to the activation of the speechrecognition mode as described in operations S101 and S103 shown inFIG. 1. The symbols in left and right direction, i.e. the symbols “

” and “

”, relates to the aforementioned navigation key functions. This is, aoperation in the left or right direction causes a user input relating tothe selecting of the manual selecting mode of operations S110 and S111,respectively, and the browsing through the respective directory, i.e.either the telephone directory or the function directory.

A second depiction 101 shall illustrate a multiple switch including atleast three single switches. Each of the single switches is associatedagain either to the activation of the speech recognition (indicated bysymbol “

”) or to the selecting and browsing function (indicated by symbols “

” and “

”).

A third depiction 102 shall illustrate a multiple tumble or toggleswitch having at least three different switching positions. Each of theswitching positions is associated again either to the activation of thespeech recognition (indicated by symbol “

”) or to the selecting and browsing function (indicated by symbols “

” and “

”).

A fourth depiction 103 shall illustrate a wheel switch and an additionalsingle key. Preferably, both the switch and the key are integrated in acommon switch console. The operation of the key having the symbolprinting “

” causes a user input relating to the activation of the speechrecognition mode. The turning of the wheel switch into a fist directionor into a second direction causes user inputs relating to the selectingof the manual selecting mode and the browsing through the respectivedirectory, respectively. The tuning of the wheel switch into the firstdirection corresponds to the operation of a navigation key in a firstposition, e.g. indicated by symbol “

”, whereas the turning of the wheel switch into the second directioncorresponds to the operation of a navigation key in a second position,e.g. indicated by symbol “

”.

The signals caused by user operation of one of the presented keys andswitches are transmitted to the key controller generating correspondinglogical signals to be transmitted to the respective applicationexpecting a user input.

Common status information, a user interface, application specificinterfaces and further application related information are displayed viathe display driver 230 and the display 240 to the user. The displaydriver 230 comprises adequate means for generating graphics, text,numbers and symbols on the display. In particular, the display is ableto display screen content in accordance with the aforementioned methodand more particularly the screen contents depicted in FIG. 3. Exemplary,a screen content 110 corresponding to the screen content S200 shown inFIG. 3 is illustrated.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and functions of various embodiments of the invention, thisdisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matter of the structure and arrangements of parts withinthe principles of the present invention to the full extend indicated bythe broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending onthe particular application for handling data records of a mobilecommunication device selectable by speech recognition while maintainingsubstantially the same functionality without departing from the scopeand the spirit of the present invention.

Further, although the invention has been illustrated as implemented incircuit block and flow diagram, those skilled in the art will recognizethat the invention may be implemented in any hardware, software orhybrid systems.

1. Method for handling data records of a mobile communication device,wherein at least one pre-stored voice tag is assigned to each of saiddata records, wherein said voice tags are employed for speechrecognition to enable selection of said data records by speech input andrecognition on the basis of said voice tags; wherein said data recordscomprise a first set of data records and a second set of data records,wherein both sets of data records relate to different applications ofsaid communication device; said method comprising: receiving an initialuser input causing said mobile communication device to be prepared forreceiving an acoustic input to perform said speech recognition thereon;receiving a first manual user input by a multiple switching component,which is capable to exhibit a first input value and a second inputvalue; displaying a list of said first or said second set of datarecords in accordance with said first input signal and said second inputsignal of said first user input; receiving a second manual user inputidentifying one data record of said displayed data records; andtransmitting an instruction comprised in said identified data record toat least one application of a plurality of applications executable onsaid mobile communication device.
 2. Method according to claim 1,wherein data records of said first set each comprise at least oneinstruction dedicated to a dialing application for dialing a telephonenumber comprised in said instruction, wherein said first set of datarecords represents a selection of telephone directory entries, whereindata records of said second set each comprise at least one instructiondedicated to control functions of one or more further applicationsexecuted on said mobile communication device in accordance with saidinstruction, wherein said second set of data records represents aselection of device functions and device application functions. 3.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least onedesignation is assigned to each of the data records, said designationbeing displayable.
 4. Method according to claim 1, comprising:displaying an indication to said user that an alternative manual userinput is operable when receiving said initial user input.
 5. Methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said displaying of said list of said firstset of data records being arranged in a pre-determined sequencecomprises: displaying at least one data record of said list of saidfirst set of data records; receiving a browsing input capable to exhibita first browsing value and a second browsing value; in case saidbrowsing input corresponds to said first browsing value, displaying atleast one data record subsequent to said at least one displayed datarecord; and in case said browsing input corresponds to said secondbrowsing value, displaying at least one data record preceding to said atleast one displayed data record.
 6. Method according to claim 1, whereinsaid displaying of said list of said second set of data records beingarranged in a pre-determined sequence comprises: displaying at least onedata record of said list of said second set of data records; receiving abrowsing input capable to exhibit a first browsing value and a secondbrowsing value; in case said browsing input corresponds to a firstbrowsing value, displaying at least one data record subsequent to saidat least one displayed data record; and in case said browsing inputcorresponds to a second browsing value, displaying at least one datarecord preceding to said at least one displayed data record.
 7. Softwaretool for handling data records of a mobile communication deviceselectable by speech recognition, comprising program code means forcarrying out the steps of claim 1, when said program is run on aprocessing device, a computer and/or a mobile communication device. 8.Computer program comprising program code means stored on a computerreadable medium for carrying out the method for handling data records ofa mobile communication device selectable by speech recognition of claim1 when said program product is run on a processing device, a computerand/or a mobile communication device.
 9. Computer program productcomprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium forcarrying out the method for handling data records of a mobilecommunication device selectable by speech recognition of claim 1, whensaid program product is run on a processing device, a computer and/or amobile communication device.
 10. Mobile communication device forhandling data records of a mobile communication device which areselectable by speech input and recognition, comprising: a plurality ofapplications executable on said mobile communication device; at leastone pre-stored voice tag for speech recognition is assigned to each ofsaid data records having assigned, wherein said voice tags are employedfor speech recognition to enable selection of said data records byspeech input and recognition on the basis of said voice tags; said datarecords comprising a first set of data records and a second set of datarecords, wherein both sets of data records relate to differentapplications of said communication device; a speech recognitioncomponent for recognizing acoustic input via a microphone resulting in aselection of one of said data records in accordance with said acousticinput; a first actuator for activating said speech recognitioncomponent; a second actuator being a said multiple switching componentcapable to generate a first input signal and a second input signal, saidsecond actuator being operable with said speech recognition modecomponent causing displaying of a list of said first or said second setof said data records on said display in accordance with said first inputsignal and said second input signal; and a third actuator for selectingone data record of said displayed list and for transmitting aninstruction comprised in said selected data record to at least one ofthe plurality of applications to be operated in accordance with saidinstruction.
 11. Mobile communication device according to claim 10,wherein data records of said first set each comprise at least oneinstruction dedicated to a dialing application for dialing a telephonenumber comprised in said instruction, wherein said first set of datarecords represents a selection of telephone directory entries, whereindata records of said second set each comprise at least one instructiondedicated to control functions of one or more further applicationsexecuted on said mobile communication device in accordance with saidinstruction, wherein said second set of data records represents aselection of device functions and device application functions; 12.Mobile communication device according to claim 10, comprising: said setof data records each comprising at least one designation, saiddesignations being for display.
 13. Mobile communication deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein said first actuator for activating saidspeech recognition component causes a display to indicate to a user thatan alternative manual user input is operable.
 14. Mobile communicationdevice according to claim 10, wherein said first input signal causes adisplay of a at least one data record of said list of said first set ofdata records, said first set of data records being arranged in apre-determined sequence, wherein: said second actuator operable withsaid speech recognition component generates a first browsing signal anda second browsing signal; in case said displaying of said at least onedata record of said first set of data records has been initiated: saidfirst browsing signal causes a displaying of at least one subsequentdata record of said first set on said display; and said second browsingsignal causes a displaying of at least one preceding data record of saidfirst set on said display.
 15. Mobile communication device according toclaim 10, wherein said second input signal causes a displaying of atleast one data record of said list of said second set of data records,said second set of data records being arranged in a pre-determinedsequence, further comprising: said second actuator being operable withsaid speech recognition component for generating a first browsing signaland a second browsing signal; in case said displaying of said at leastone data record of said second set of data records has been initiated:said first browsing signal causing a displaying of at least onesubsequent data record of said second set on said display; and saidsecond browsing signal causing a displaying of at least one precedingdata record of said second set on said display.
 16. Mobile communicationdevice according to claim 10, wherein said second actuator is able togenerate at least two different signals upon input of a user.